Liquid wax applicator

ABSTRACT

A liquid wax applicator including a wax reservoir and a plunger assembly operable through the bottom of the reservoir to deposit liquid wax by gravity upon floor contacting pads. The plungers are spring biased to close openings in the reservoir bottom to prevent escape of liquid wax from the reservoir. Pressure may be applied upon the plungers by pressing upon the applicator handle to depress the plunger springs and urge the applicator pads against the plungers to allow wax to flow from the reservoir onto the applicator pads during the time pressure is applied. Each plunger incorporates a plurality of nozzles which are so positioned as to assure even distribution of the wax across the entire applicator pad area.

United States Patent Fedorek 1 Sept. 26, 1972 [54] LIQUID WAX APPLICATOR Primary ExaminerDaniel Blum [72] Inventor: John M. Fedorek, 1034 Surrey Atmmey Karl Spwak Road, Summerdale, NJ. 08083 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: March 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 126,660

A liquid wax applicator including a wax reservoir and a plunger assembly operable through the bottom of the reservoir to deposit liquid wax by gravity upon floor contacting pads. The plungers are spring biased 22,??553 to close openings in the reservoir bottom to prevent l 58] Fi d 206 264 escape of liquid wax from the reservoir. Pressure may e 1 be applied upon the plungers by pressing upon the applicator handle to depress the plunger springs and urge the applicator pads against the plungers to allow [56] References Cited wax to flow from the reservoir onto the applicator UNITED STATES PATENTS pads during the time pressure is applied. Each plunger incorporates a plurality of nozzles which are so posi- 1,445,976 2/1923 Sealund ..40l/273 tioned as to assure even distribution f the wax across gil s? 2650? the entire applicator pad area. Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I8 I [ll '27 I2 I4 Y /j =1 1,? 1/ I r l 1 /ll 11 J 44- 45 44 86 1? 44 42 x H8 I22 68 5 '20 68 66 32 29.; 7 :1 ,I 40 .f' ia .1 i -1 317. f," v v I ll t u" "I P v "f" L-I' 1" PATENTEDSEPZS I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN M. FEDOREK BY [MM W ATTOR NEY.

PATENTEDsP2s m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG.3

INVENTOR. JOHN M. FEDOREK ATTORNEY LIQUID WAX APPLICATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of devices useful for applying wax to floor surfaces, and, more particularly, is directed to a liquid wax applicator of the self-sealing type which includes an upwardly positioned liquid wax reservoir arranged to optionally permit wax to flow through openable apertures in the reservoir to floor applicator pads.

Prior workers in the art have developed liquid wax applicators incorporating liquid wax containers and applicator pads associated with the containers. Additionally, pressure means to release the wax from the reservoir have been developed as exemplified by the liquid floor wax container and applicator disclosed in the US. Pat. No. 2,887,706.

The devices presently available have tended to be complicated in construction and cumbersome in operation. The cost of manufacture of prior art models has negated any idea heretofore of producing a device designed for single use service prior to being discarded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to self-sealing liquid floor wax applicator of the type incorporating means to uniformly apply the liquid wax across the entire face of the applicator pads so that equal distribution of wax upon a floor surface results.

The present invention includes an upwardly positioned wax reservoir which may be formed of metallic or plastic materials of inexpensive material and fabrication design and an inexpensive appliator pad spaced below the liquid wax reservoir. A plurality of spring biased plungers extend between the top of the applicator pads and the bottom of the reservoir and normally function to seal bottom positioned openings in the reservoir. By applying pressure upon the applicator pads through the applicator handle, the plungers can be depressed against the bias of the plunger springs to open the reservoir bottom openings to allow liquid wax to flow through the said openings.

Each plunger assembly incorporates a plurality of discreetly positioned nozzles which direct the gravity flow of liquid wax through the reservoir bottom openings for equal distribution over the entire applicator pad surface. Removal of applicator pad pressure from the plunger assembly by releasing the handle allows the plunger springs to close the reservoir bottom openings thereby interrupting the flow of additional wax to the applicator pad. It is contemplated that the liquid wax reservoir, the applicator pads, the plunger assembly and all other functioning parts will be fabricated of inexpensive and readily formed materials such as readily workable plastic. In this manner, it is contemplated to develop a device that is extremely inexpensive in manufacture and which may be regarded as a throwaway" type of article. Thus, liquid wax can be sold in the throwaway container which incorporates a self-feeding applicator to thereby act as a promotional device for enhancing sales of the liquid floor wax.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved liquid wax applicator of the type set forth.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel liquid wax applicator including a liquid wax reservoir and plunger assembly operably through the reservoir for release of the liquid reservoir contents through openings in the reservoir floor for gravity flow upon floor contacting applicator pads.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel liquid wax applicator in the form of a reservoir for liquid floor wax and to provide this reservoir with applicator padsand a detachable handle so that the handle may be removed and reused with another liquid wax applicator upon consumption of the liquid wax contents.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel liquid wax applicator incorporating a liquid reservoir and an improved plunger assembly operable through the reservoir, the plunger assembly incorporating means to uniformly disperse the liquid contents of the reservoir upon the applicator pads.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel liquid wax applicator that is simple in design, inexpensive in manufacture, and trouble-free when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken into conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the device, partially broken away to expose interior construction details.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially broken away to expose the details of the interior construction.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed view of the plunger assembly in liquid wax retaining position.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view similar to FIG. 3 showing the plunger assembly in position to allow liquid wax to flow from the reservoir.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the device with the plunger assembly in wax flowing position.

FIG. 6 is an end elevated view similar to FIG. 5 with the plunger assembly in position to prevent flow from the reservoir.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of my invention selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, I show a liquid wax applicator l0 incorporating a liquid wax reservoir 12 which positions at the top of the applicator for gravity flow of the liquid wax (not shown) downward through the remainder of the applicator construction. The reservoir top 14 upwardly closes the reservoir 12 in a liquid-tight, peripheral junction and is provided with an opening 16 for insertion of the liquid wax into the reservoir in well-known manner. A cap 18, which may be threaded for a screwed connection or which may be of other well-known closure design, closes the opening 16 after filling the reservoir with its liquid contents, An elongate handle 20 affixes to the reservoir top 14 in any well-known, suitable manner near the central axis thereof and serves the dual functions of both manipulating the applicator over the floor surface for wax application purposes and also imposing vertical forces upon the applicator body for wax releasing purposes as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The bottom 22 of the reservoir peripherally secures to the reservoir endwalls 24 and sidewalls 25 in a liquid-tight junction and is provided with a plurality of liquid wax releasing openings 26, 28, which communicate with the interior of the reservoir 12. The liquid wax releasing openings 26, 28, 30 receive the respective plunger assemblies therein for wax flow control purposes. A pair of spaced side arms 32, 34 co-extend with and downwardly extend from the reservoir sidewalls 25 and respectively terminate downwardly in inwardly turned flanges 36, 38 which serve as right and left guides to receive the applicator pad assembly 40 in sliding engagement therein. Each opening 26, 28, 30 receives a similar plunger assembly 42 therein for liquid wax flow control purposes. See FIG. 2.

As best observed in FIGS. 3 and 4, each plunger assembly 42 includes a body 44 which is preferably fabricated of molded plastic to a generally hollow,

cylindrical form having cylindrical side walls 46 which define the liquid wax flow channel downwardly therethrough. The sidewalls 46 terminate downwardly in an integral, liquid-tight bottom 48 which is axially drilled or otherwise treated to provide an axially aligned opening '50 or proper size to reciprocally receive the piston rod 52 therein. If necessary, the opening 50 may be gasketed (not shown) or packed in well-known manner to prevent the leakage of liquid wax through the opening about the piston rod 52. The sidewalls 46 outwardly terminate upwardly in a shoulder 54 which abuts the lower surface 23 of the reservoir bottom 22 and which may be cemented thereto to form a strong, liquid-tight peripheral junction. A second shoulder 56 inwardly forms from the peripheral shoulder 54 and defines an upwardly extending cylindrical sealing area 58 therebetween. The sealing area 58 exterially is cemented or otherwise secured to the outer periphery of each respective bottom opening 26, 28, 30 in a liquid-tight, strong junction. The inner surface 60 of the sealing area 58 cooperates with the piston 62 and the piston seal 64 to prevent leakage of liquid wax past the piston 62. The seal 64 is illustrated as an O-ring type, but is will be appreciated that other types of well-known seals may be employed if so desired and still fall within the scope and intent of the invention.

Each piston rod 52 terminates downwardly in a widened foot 66 which is tightly secured thereto. A coil spring 68 biases between the body bottom 48 and the piston rod affixed foot 66 to continuously urge the piston 62 downwardly with respect to the reservoir bottom 22. See FIG. 3. When the piston 62 is urged by the spring 68 to its sealing position 70 as in FIG. 3, the bottom 72 of the piston 62 peripherally contacts the inward second shoulder 56 at the upper end of the body sidewall 46. The piston O-ring seal 64 positions within a peripheral, horizontally oriented groove 74 and extends slightly beyond the outer periphery of the piston 62 to contact the sealing area inner surface 60 in sea]- ing engagement therewith. The abutment of the piston bottom 72 upon the second shoulder 56 serves both as a second seal to prevent possible leakage of liquid wax therethrough and also to define the lower limit of travel of the piston 62 with respect to the plunger assembly body 44.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the piston 62 and piston rod 52 are illustrated in the upper position 76 wherein liquid wax can flow by gravity about the piston 62 and through the peripheral opening 78 to fall upon the applicator pads as hereinafter more fully set forth. It will be noted in FIG. 2 that the applicator pad assembly 40 is provided with a plurality of spaced mounds 80, 82, 83 which respectively register beneath each foot 66 of the plunger assemblies 42. Thus, upon the application of downward pressure upon the handle 20, the reservoir l2 presses closer to the applicator pad assembly by depressing the plunger assembly springs 68. The relative movement of the applicator pad assembly 40 closer to the reservoir 12 causes the mounds 80, 82, 83 to press upon each respective associated foot 66 of each plunger assembly 42 to urge the foot upwardly against the bias of each associated coil spring 68. As previously noted, each piston 62 directly connects to the respective plunger assembly foot 66 through the piston rod 52. Accordingly, upward movement of a foot 66 causes simultaneous upward movement of the associated piston 62. Therefore, upon the application of downward pressure upon the handle 20, the applicator pad assembly 40 pushes upwardly to cause the pistons 62 to move from the sealing position as in FIG. 3 to the upper position 76 as in FIG. 4 for wax gravity flow purposes.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the liquid wax (not shown) flows through the peripheral opening 78 which is defined between the piston 62 and the inner surface 60 of the sealing area 58 when the plunger assembly is pressed to its upper position 76. The liquid wax will flow past the second shoulder 56 in the direction indicated by the arrows 84 through the interior of the plunger assembly body 44. A plurality of open troughs 86 penetrate the cylindrical body sidewalls 46 at the junction with the body bottom 48 and communicate with the hollow interior 88 of the plunger assemblies 42. The troughs 86 position about the periphery of the plunger assembly 42 and downwardly incline to feed liquid wax to the applicator pad assembly 40 at numerous locations to thereby assure even spread of liquid wax uniformly throughout the liquid pad assembly upon application of downward pressure upon the handle 20.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the liquid pad assembly 40 incorporates a pair of spaced floor plates 90 of generally planar, rectangular configuration which bottomly receives the wax absorbent applicator pads 91 thereover. A dished, liquid wax retaining housing 92 affixes to the top of the floor plates 90 and is fabricated preferably of molded plastic with integral sidewalls 94, 96 and end walls 98, 100 which define a liquid wax temporary storage area 102 therebetween. The sidewalls 94, 96 terminate outwardly in horizontal flanges 103, 104 which space above the floor plates 90 to define longitudinal tracks 106, 108 therebetween.

As seen in FIG. 1, the applicator pad assembly 40 is a sliding fit upon the bottom of the liquid wax applicator by aligning the tracks 106, 108 about the bottom flanges 36, 38. In this manner, the applicator pad as sembly may be readily slidingly affixed to the applica tor 10. It should be noted that the spacing between the floor plates 90 and the respective side wall flanges 103, 104 is great enough to assure that the right and left tracks 106, 108 are wider than the associated horizontal flanges 36, 38. In this manner, relative vertical movement of the applicator pad assembly 40 with respect to the reservoir 14 may be provided by permitting relative vertical movement of the flanges 36, 38 within the associated tracks 106, 108. Thus, the applicator pad assembly 40 is vertically movable from an initial position 112 as illustrated in FIG. 6 to a depressed position 110 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

It should be noted that when the pad assembly 40 is in its initial position 112, the bias of the various coil springs 68 maintains the relative spacing between the reservoir 12 and the applicator pad assembly 40 and urges each piston 62 to its sealing position 70 as in FIG. 3. Upon application of downward pressure at the handle 20, the applicator pad assembly 40 is urged to its depressed position 110 by depressing the various coil springs 68. This causes relative movement of the tracks 106, 108 upwardly with respect to their associated flanges 36, 38. When the applicator pad assembly moves to the depressed position 110, the spaced mounds 80, 82 register with and press upwardly against each foot 66-of the various plunger assemblies 42 to urge the respective plungers 62 to the upper position 76. See FIG. 4.

The inward ends 114, 116 of the flanges 103, 104 abut against the arm stops 118 to limit the inward movement of the applicator pad assembly with respect to the liquid wax applicator 10. With the inward ends 114, 116 abutted against the arm stops 118, the most remote plunger assembly 45 may then be positioned so that the foot 66 acts as a detent against the inward stop 120 which rises above the mound 82. In this manner, the applicator may be assembled at the plant in a manner to prevent accidental disassembly in the field upon use. As best seen in FIG. 1, the floor 122 of the housing 92 is randomly pierced throughout its length and width to provide a plurality of wax passage openings 124. The openings 124 serve to distribute the liquid wax (not shown) equally over the top of the applicator pad 91 for equal application upon the surface to be waxed. Of course, the plates 90 are also provided with openings (not illustrated) in registry with the housing openings 124 to permit unrestricted wax flow therethrough.

In operation, it is contemplated that liquid wax will be filled in the reservoir 12 through the opening 16 at the point of manufacture and the entire liquid wax applicator and liquid wax will be sold as a unit. By applying pressure downwardly upon the handle 20, the applicator pad assembly will be moved from its initial position as in FIG. 6 to its depressed position as in FIG. 5. In the depressed position, the pistons 62 will be pushed to their upper position 76 (FIG. 4) to allow liquid wax to flow through the peripheral opening 78. The wax flows in the path indicated by the arrow 84 downwardly within the body 44 and through the plurality of open troughs 86. The falling liquid wax flows upon the housing 92 wherein it is retained upon the floor 122 by the sidewalls 94, 96 and the end walls 98, 100. All of the liquid wax then passes by gravity through the plurality of wax passage openings 124 until it reaches the top of the pad 91 which then becomes wax impregnated for application purposes. It should be noted that the plurality of peripherally arranged troughs 86 and randomly spaced wax passage openings 124 all cooperate to assure even distribution of the wax over the entire applicator pad 91.

I claim:

I. In a liquid wax applicator of the type including an upper wax reservoir having a top and a bottom, a handle upwardly extending from the reservoir top and wax application pads receiving liquid wax from the reservoir, the combination of A. wax passage means provided in the bottom of the reservoir,

1. said wax passage means including an opening through the reservoir bottom;

B. a plunger assembly operable through the said opening and extending downwardly therefrom,

1. said plunger assembly including a hollow body having an open top and a closed bottom,

a. said open top joining the reservoir bottom in a leakproof junction about the bottom opening,

b. said bottom being axially pierced to reciprocally receive a piston rod therein,

2. said plunger assembly including a piston which vertically reciprocates with respect to the body, a. said piston rod terminating upwardly in an opening sealing piston and downwardly in a widened foot,

b. said piston being reciprocal from a sealing position within the opening to an upper position which exposes the opening,

3. a plurality of liquid wax directors extending from the said body,

a. said directors being peripherally spaced about the body to angularly disperse liquid wax to the wax applicator pads; and

C. an applicator pad assembly disposed beneath the bottom of the plunger assembly in registry below the wax reservoir and operatively coupled thereto for movement towards and away therefrom,

1. said pad assembly having an initial position corresponding with the sealing position of the piston,

2. said pad assembly being movable to a depressed position corresponding to the upper position of the piston,

3. said pad assembly being spaced from reservoir a greater distance when in the initial position than when in the depressed position, and

4. said pad assembly pressing against the plunger assembly foot when it is urged to its depressed position to push the piston to its upper position, whereby liquid wax can then flow from the reservoir through the bottom opening.

2. The invention of claim 1 and coil spring means associated with the plunger assembly, said coil spring means being coiled about the said piston rod.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the coil spring means bias between the bottom of the hollow body and the top of the widened foot to continuously urge the piston to its sealing position.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said body terminates upwardly in a first shoulder, said shoulder contacting the reservoir bottom about the opening in a liquid-tight junction.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the body terminates upwardly in a second shoulder, the said second shoulder cooperates with the piston to prevent leakage of liquid wax past the piston when the piston is in its said sealing position.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the first and second shoulders define an annular, upwardly extending sealing surface therebetween, the said piston sealing against the sealing surface when in the said sealing position to provide a first seal.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the piston seats upon the said second shoulder when in the sealing position to provide a second seal.

8. The invention of claim 3 and a mound rising above the applicator pad assembly, said mound registering with and contacting the widened foot to push the piston to its upper position when the pad assembly is moved to its depressed position.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the liquid wax directors are in the form of open troughs.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein sufficient open troughs are employed to equally dispense liquid wax uniformly upon the applicator pad assembly when the piston is urged to its upper position. 

1. In a liquid wax applicator of the type including an upper wax reservoir having a top and a bottom, a handle upwardly extending from the reservoir top and wax application pads receiving liquid wax from the reservoir, the combination of A. wax passage means provided in the bottom of the reservoir,
 1. said wax passage means including an opening through the reservoir bottom; B. a plunger assembly operable through the said opening and extending downwardly therefrom,
 1. said plunger assembly including a hollow body having an open top and a closed bottom, a. said open top joining the reservoir bottom in a leakproof junction about the bottom opening, b. said bottom being axially pierced to reciprocally receive a piston rod therein,
 2. said plunger assembly including a piston which vertically reciprocates with respect to the body, a. said piston rod terminating upwardly in an opening sealing piston and downwardly in a widened foot, b. said piston being reciprocal from a sealing position within the opening to an upper position which exposes the opening,
 3. a plurality of liquid wax directors extending from the said body, a. said directors being peripherally spaced about the body to angularly disperse liquid wax to the wax applicator pads; and C. an applicator pad assembly disposed beneath the bottom of the plunger assembly in registry below the wax reservoir and operatively coupled thereto for movement towards and away therefrom,
 1. said pad assembly having an initial position corresponding with the sealing position of the piston,
 2. said pad assembly being movable to a depressed position corresponding to the upper position of the piston,
 3. said pad assembly being spaced from reservoir a greater distance when in the initial position thAn when in the depressed position, and
 4. said pad assembly pressing against the plunger assembly foot when it is urged to its depressed position to push the piston to its upper position, whereby liquid wax can then flow from the reservoir through the bottom opening.
 2. said plunger assembly including a piston which vertically reciprocates with respect to the body, a. said piston rod terminating upwardly in an opening sealing piston and downwardly in a widened foot, b. said piston being reciprocal from a sealing position within the opening to an upper position which exposes the opening,
 2. said pad assembly being movable to a depressed position corresponding to the upper position of the piston,
 2. The invention of claim 1 and coil spring means associated with the plunger assembly, said coil spring means being coiled about the said piston rod.
 3. a plurality of liquid wax directors extending from the said body, a. said directors being peripherally spaced about the body to angularly disperse liquid wax to the wax applicator pads; and C. an applicator pad assembly disposed beneath the bottom of the plunger assembly in registry below the wax reservoir and operatively coupled thereto for movement towards and away therefrom,
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the coil spring means bias between the bottom of the hollow body and the top of the widened foot to continuously urge the piston to its sealing position.
 3. said pad assembly being spaced from reservoir a greater distance when in the initial position thAn when in the depressed position, and
 4. said pad assembly pressing against the plunger assembly foot when it is urged to its depressed position to push the piston to its upper position, whereby liquid wax can then flow from the reservoir through the bottom opening.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said body terminates upwardly in a first shoulder, said shoulder contacting the reservoir bottom about the opening in a liquid-tight junction.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the body terminates upwardly in a second shoulder, the said second shoulder cooperates with the piston to prevent leakage of liquid wax past the piston when the piston is in its said sealing position.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the first and second shoulders define an annular, upwardly extending sealing surface therebetween, the said piston sealing against the sealing surface when in the said sealing position to provide a first seal.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the piston seats upon the said second shoulder when in the sealing position to provide a second seal.
 8. The invention of claim 3 and a mound rising above the applicator pad assembly, said mound registering with and contacting the widened foot to push the piston to its upper position when the pad assembly is moved to its depressed position.
 9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the liquid wax directors are in the form of open troughs.
 10. The invention of claim 9 wherein sufficient open troughs are employed to equally dispense liquid wax uniformly upon the applicator pad assembly when the piston is urged to its upper position. 